Bryan Davis Gilmore And 11 Others Charged In Single Vehicle Wreck That Killed William Lee Tippett

Raleigh, NC - Charges have been filed against 12 people in connection to the death of an 18-year-old man from Garner, NC.

William Lee Tippett was killed in an alcohol related single vehicle wreck February 16, according to the Department of Public Safety. Tippett was a student at Cleveland High School.

Bryan Davis Gilmore, 17, was driving and was charged by NC Highway Patrol with Felony Death By Vehicle Driving While Impaired And Reckless Driving. WRAL reported Gilmore was driving 85 mph in a 45 mph zone when he lost control and flipped his vehicle several times.

Tippett was not wearing a seatbelt. Gilmore and another passenger were taken to WakeMed in Raleigh and released.

Highway Patrol told WFMY News 2 Gilmore surrendered himself to authorities on the 19th and was released on a $24,500 bond. His first appearance in court was February 20.

The NC Division of Alcohol Law Enforcement assisted with the investigation and filed two additional charges against Gilmore, including Underage Possession Of A Malt Beverage and Possession Of One Half Ounce Or Less Of Marijuana.

ALE charged 11 other people in addition to Gilmore. Among them was 21-year-old Carl Jerome Watson, who was charged with 16 counts of Aid And Abet Underage Persons In Purchasing And Possessing More Than 60 Malt Beverages on the evening of February 15th.

"This senseless death is an unfortunate reminder of the extremely serious problems associated with underage drinking, driving while impaired and providing alcoholic beverages to minors," said Secretary Kieran Shanahan, Department of Public Safety, in a news release. "My sympathy and prayers are with all those affected by this tragedy."